Thierry Henry: I'd love to boss Arsenal

I didn’t like it when I was a player and it’s worse now. At least when you’re a player you can do something about it

Thierry Henry

But last night he admitted he may have a long to wait as Arsene Wenger is still ­going strong.

The Gunners’ record scorer welled up when a statue in his honour was unveiled at the Emirates yesterday, alongside similar tributes to another former skipper Tony Adams and inspirational former manager Herbert Chapman.

The bronzes are part of celebrations to mark the club’s 125th anniversary.

But New York Red Bulls star Henry, 34, confirmed he has ambitions to go into coaching once his playing career is over.

Asked if he fancied taking the helm at the Gunners, Henry said: “One day, but when is he (Wenger) going to stop?

“I’ve said, and I’ll always say, ‘Once a Gooner, always a Gooner’. Every time I can, I always watch Arsenal. I’m in pain when Arsenal lose, I can’t take it well.

“I didn’t like it when I was a player and it’s worse now. At least when you’re a player you can do something about it.”

Boss Wenger, who rescued Henry from Juventus in 1999, warned his fellow Frenchman management is a tough business.

“You have to learn the job,” he said. “You need to learn the team, how to handle people. You do not stop being a player and ­become a manager the next day. It doesn’t work like that.

“It is a different life from a player. You have to dedicate your life to the team. Players have to make that choice.

“I must say, many players I have ­managed have qualities to be managers, like Patrick Vieira or Thierry.”

Wenger said starting at a big club is a major challenge, adding: “To go in straight away under massive pressure is maybe not the best way of getting used to dealing with the players.

“It will be for him to decide. I encourage every player who has a positive ­philo- sophy to be a manager.”

On the eve of the statue unveiling ­Henry, whose season in the US ended last month, was training with Arsenal.

Wenger said the striker can come back to do his coaching qualifications if he wishes. “I would have anyone who has played here to come and do their badges,” said the 62-year-old. “But they have to hurry up, I am not the youngest!”

Meanwhile, Wenger said how Arsenal’s poor start to the season could have been much worse if he had not signed Mikel Arteta from today’s opponents Everton on transfer deadline day.

“It went to the wire,” he said of the £10m deal. “If we hadn’t got him, we would have been in more trouble.

“We completed it at 9.45pm on August 31. For two days it was very uncertain.”